Tiger Woods weathers uneven day, holds World Challenge lead

Dec. 7, 2013
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Tiger Woods tees off on the sixth hole during the third round of the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge golf tournament at Sherwood Country Club, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Mark J. Terrill, AP

by Steve DiMeglio, USA TODAY Sports

by Steve DiMeglio, USA TODAY Sports

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. â?? World No. 1 Tiger Woods drove a ball into a water hazard, made a bogey on a par-5, three-putted from six feet and made four bogeys during a demanding round Saturday in the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge at windswept Sherwood Country Club.

And he still kept the lead in the tournament he hosts and has won five times.

On a day that started in cold rain, broke into stout winds and ended in brilliant sunshine, Woods didn't lose any ground on the leaderboard despite an even-par 72, 10 shots worse than the day before when his 62 tied the course record. Heading into Sunday's final round, Woods is at 11 under par and two clear of Zach Johnson (72) and four ahead of Bubba Watson (69), who was one of only three players in the elite field of 18 to break 70.

"It was a tough day," said Woods, who salvaged his round with birdies on two of his last three holes. "The wind was all over the place. It was tough to pick clubs â?¦ it was so difficult to pick a club and commit to it."

Woods, however, was most displeased with one club â?? his putter. He needed 33 putts, five more than the 28 he used in shooting 62 in the second round. He had two three-putts and had trouble adjusting to the speed of the greens.

"I missed my share of putts," said Woods, who has finished runner-up four times here in addition to winning five times. "I didn't putt well.

" â?¦ I'm pleased with hanging on to the lead. I'm not pleased at how I putted. I left a few out there today."

A lot of players left a few in the water hazard fronting the downhill, par-3 15th hole situated in a small canyon. Eight players hit 11 balls in all into the hazard, including Johnson.

"I thought Zach hit it perfect," Woods said. "He hit a little cut five (iron) and it was right on the flag. I mean I thought it was the perfect flight to get there, but it ended up just shy, obviously. And I had 6, and I knew that if my ball kicked up at all, it wasn't going to get there, after seeing his ball get smoked at the end (by the wind). So I went ahead and flipped it over to the left and bailed out."

But Woods three-putted after reaching the green safely.

The 15 hole wasn't the only hole Johnson had trouble with concerning the wind. He shot 72 in a round that included six birdies, two bogeys and two double-bogeys, and afterward said he thought he only hit two bad shots. He'll be paired with Woods again in the final round.

"Today was tough," said Johnson, who has finished second here twice, including to Woods in 2001. "It was just hard. It was an all-around/commitment challenge, trust issues, etc., etc. etc. It was brutal.